08 GT. 150,000 miles. Going to replace rear end fluid and might as well replace the diff cover with one that has fill/drain plugs. I notice most covers have the load bolts for the bearing caps??? How do these work exactly? And how can a diff cover take the load?? What covers are you guys using? Car is stock by the way.

 

I don't know enough to say how they work exactly... but the stock cover is stamped steel, the covers you are looking at are likely cast aluminum with strengthening ribs built in, it doesn't flex like the stamped steel, that's how it can take some of the load.

 

The load bolts are pretty simple. You screw it in till it makes contact with the caps, then torque to 5 ft lbs or so. I don't remember the exact directions, but it puts pressure on the caps.

Be sure to use some type of anti-seize on the plug threads. My drain plug is seized up good and tight. I broke a 1/4 inch hex bit trying to remove it.

 

Any one brand in particular? Load bolts sound easy enough

 

The Ford Racing Cover is a good one; it's the one I have on my car.

 

I have the ford racing one that 6-speed just posted. The load bolts are more for the lower gears, because they put more pressure on the bearing caps. I'm no rear axle expert, this is just what I read when getting 4.10 gears installed.

 

Another benefit of the FRPP cover is that it increases the oil capacity, which perhaps helps with cooling. Be advised that you still have to fill the oil to a level based on the front fill hole on the pumpkin and not the one in the cover since the one in the cover is higher than the front fill hole.

 

I use a LPW; clears the panhard bar just fine.
The bearing cap bolts are torqued to 10 ft-lbs, as are the locking nuts.

Having the drain and fill plugs are really nice.

Dont forget to add some friction modifier when you change fluid.